The American Era
Power and Strategy for the 21st Century

This controversial book addresses America's role in light of recent terrorist events.

Robert J. Lieber (Author)

9780521697385, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 22 January 2007

306 pages
22.9 x 15.3 x 2.1 cm, 0.421 kg

'The writing is refreshingly free of jargon - a fault of much of the literature written in opposition to Lieber's thesis. His case is argued to strong, non-partisan effect. His examples are telling. The overall impact is to restructure the debate over recent American foreign policy along lines that are calm, analytical, and scholarly. We can only hope other books, whatever their normative agenda, will follow this example.' Japanese Journal of Political Science

The American Era makes a provocative argument about America's world role. It sets out the case for a grand strategy that recognizes American preponderance as necessary and desirable for coping with the perils of the post-9/11 world. The book argues firstly that, Militant Islamic terrorism and weapons of mass destruction pose a threat which requires us to alter the way we think about the pre-emptive and preventive use of force. Secondly, the UN and other international bodies are incapable of acting on these urgent problems. Thirdly, in an international system with no true central authority other countries will inevitably look for leadership to the US. The book argues that if America does not respond actively to terrorist threats, no one else will take the initiative.

1. Caveat empire: how to think about American power
2. New (and old) grand strategy
3. Europe: symbolic reactions and common threats
4. Globalization, culture, and identities in crisis
5. Iraq and the Middle East: dilemmas of U.S. power
6. Asia's American pacifier
7. Why they hate us and why they love us
8. The future of the American era.

Subject Areas: Terrorism, armed struggle [JPWL], Political control & freedoms [JPV], International relations [JPS], 21st century history: from c 2000 - [HBLX], Postwar 20th century history, from c 1945 to c 2000 [HBLW3], 20th century history: c 1900 to c 2000 [HBLW]